Surat’s Urban Forest ‘Sahid Smriti Van’ Reduces Air Pollution

Surat : Residents in and around the Railway Protection Force (RPF) colony in the industrial area of Udhana, Surat are inhaling cleaner air as compared to their counterparts living in other localities. Thanks to the urban forest named ‘Sahid Smriti Van’ developed by industrialist Viral Desai, who is also known as Green  Man of Surat, a three-and-a-half-month long study on the ambient air quality by a researcher from the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) revealed that urban forest has significantly reduced toxic substances such as PM10 and PM 2.5 in the air. 

Yugmi Patel, a researcher from SVNIT carried out her research on the Sahid Smriti Van located at Udhana RFP colony for three-and-a-half-months. This forest was created by greenman Viral Desai in 2019 and it is the first urban forest in the Indian Railway located at the Udhana railway premises.  Research has found that these forests have significantly reduced toxic substances such as PM10 and PM2.5 in the air in the southern region.

Viral Desai said, “Looking at the condition of cities like Delhi and Lahore, it is clear that we should focus on creating more urban forests. This will help reduce pollution in cities and also help reduce the temperature in cities.”

Researcher Yugmi Patel said, “The trees selected in Sahid Smriti Van are very important. Local species of trees should be selected while creating an urban forest. Our research revealed that PM10 levels in Sahid Smriti Van reduced by 18.85% and PM2.5 levels by 10.66% compared to the industrial area in the vicinity This has benefited the health of a large population of the city.”

It is worth mentioning that this urban forest was created in the year 2019 by greenman Viral Desai. More than 1500 trees of native  species have been planted in this forest in an area of ​​19000 square feet. Viral Desai has created seven urban forests in the last five years and planted 6,50,000 trees.

“We need an urban forest policy in the state of Gujarat, especially in the diamond city of Surat. In the developed countries like Canada and USA, they are developing urban forest in hospitals and government owned properties. IF we have to give a better future to our children, we need to seriously think of growing more trees” said Desai. 

The urban forest at Udhana is created with the Miyawaki technique. “WE have planted fruit and vegetable trees like Moringa, so that the RPF jawans can consume it”